Functional BvgAS Virulence Control System in Bordetella bronchiseptica Is Necessary for Induction of Ca 2+ Transients in Ciliated Tracheal Epithelial Cells

Abstract
To study initial Bordetella bronchiseptica -tracheal epithelial cell interactions, we coincubated B. bronchiseptica with rabbit tracheal explant cultures and assayed bacterial adherence and host cell Ca 2+ signaling. Wild-type B. bronchiseptica (RB50) preferentially adhered to cilia and induced ciliated host cell Ca 2+ transients within 2 min of coincubation, whereas coincubation with an avirulent strain (RB57) resulted in limited binding and Ca 2+ signaling. The described cell system allows for assessment of initial B. bronchiseptica -host cell interactions that can contribute to pathogenicity or to host cell defense.